‘Star Wars: Episode 9’ Casts Matt Smith In Key Role
Matt Smithis heading back to space for a key role inStar Wars: Episode 9. The British actor best known for his roles inDoctor WhoandThe Crownhas been cast in the next installment of theStar Warsfranchise in an undisclosed, but major, role.Varietyreports that Matt Smith is joining the cast ofStar Wars: Episode 9in a “key role.” The final installment of the Skywalker saga is currently in the full swing of production in the U.K.
The report didn’t reveal what role Smith would be playing, or whether he would be on the side of the First Order or the Resistance. But, considering the franchise’s track record with casting pale British dudes, it’s likely that he’ll be playing a member of the villainous First Order, which is currently led byAdam Driver’s Kylo Ren andDomhnall Gleeson’s General Hux. Could he be another commanding officer who threatens Kylo and Hux’s fragile leadership? Or — withDaisy Ridleythrowing off the series' accent association — could he actually join the Resistance? Maybe he’ll play one ofRey’s three potential fathersthat she invites to a Greek island to find out who her parents really are.
But I’m going to venture a guess that he’ll play an alien, much like his most famous role. Because this isn’t Smith’s first journey into a galaxy far, far away. The actor had his breakout role in the long-running British sci-fi showDoctor Who, in which he played the eleventh incarnation of the titular Time Lord for three seasons. Smith later went on to star in Netflix’s prestige dramaThe Crown, for which he earned an Emmy nod, but it seems like he could never shake his sci-fi bug — starring in 2015’s much-malignedTerminator Genisys. But his most beloved role (at least for me) will always be as the Eleventh Doctor, so I hope that he won’t have to be relegated to villain again justbecause he looks like one.
Smith joins the current cast which includesDaisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac,andAdam Driver, as well as series newcomersKeri Russell, Richard E. Grant, Dominic Monaghan,andNaomi Ackie.Billy Dee Williamsis set to reprise his role as Lando Calrissian, whileCarrie Fisherwill returnas Leia Organa through archival and unreleased footage.
Star Wars: Episode 9is directed byJ.J. Abramsand is set to fly into theaters onDecember 20, 2019.
